Ground Zero mosque imam due back in court over Union City building

File photoA judge may rule tomorrow on Union City's bid to take control of a Central Avenue building owned Feisal Abdul Rauf, the iman who wants to build an Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero.

The imam at the center of the Ground Zero mosque controversy is due back in court tomorrow, hoping that improvements made at 2206 Central Ave. in Union City will be enough to sway a Hudson County judge to keep Union City from taking control of the day-to-day operation of the building.

Residents of the 16-unit building say Feisal Abdul Rauf has been doing a number of repairs and are generally satisfied with the improvements.

But the building was put back on fire watch from Oct. 8 to Oct. 13 by the city after officials noticed that the fire escape had been temporarily removed, according to city spokesman Mark Albiez.

Rauf is currently in a legal battle with the city over the condition of the building. The city has cited more than 200 health and fire code violations during inspections done in the past two months.

Tomorrow's hearing is at 10 a.m. in front of Judge Thomas Olivieri in Hudson County Superior Court in Jersey City.
Union City will be seeking to recoup money for the fire watch, Albiez said.

"City policy is to ensure that payment is made for a landlord's failure to provide essential services," Albiez said.

The city is seeking to put the building into receivership, which makes an independent entity responsible for collecting rent and maintaing repairs.

Last month, a police officer was placed on watch after various fire hazards, including a faulty fire alarm system, were discovered. A Hudson County judge ordered the imam's company, Sage Development, to pay the city $12,960 for the 10-day fire watch.

Rauf is proposing to build a mosque and Islamic cultural center just a few blocks from Ground Zero and has caused a firestorm of debate around the country.